New Delhi: India’s colts clinched the Hockey Junior World Cup after 15 years in Lucknow recently and the historic win was a huge morale booster to the team and instilled “more confidence” in them to achieve greater goals in future.
Skipper Harjeet Singh said that he and his team mates now aim to break into the senior national team and win the gold in the 2018 World Cup slated to take place in Bhubaneswar.
“The aim is to get into the (senior) team by impressing with our performances in the upcoming Hockey India League (starting January 21) and then go for top honours in the World Cup and Tokyo Olympics 2020,” Harjeet was quoted as saying.
Harjeet, who led the side to their pinnacle after a span of 15 years, said it was the best feeling in the world when the roof came down in Lucknow after they beat Belgium 2-1 in the final.
“It was a surreal feeling. The entire stadium was packed and the moment we won, the joy crossed all limits. We felt so proud to be able to give so much joy to an entire nation at our age,” the skipper said.
The cash award that comes with the winners’ trophy was a boost for the players, who mostly come from humble background.
“I have experienced poverty but hockey has given me a new life. With the money I got from Hockey India League and Rs10 lakh from Hockey India awards this year, I could build a house in my home town Kurali. The cash awards for winning the World Cup will boost our confidence and help us stay committed to win many more tournaments,” said Harjeet, whose father Rampal Singh works as a truck driver.
“Most of us come from humble backgrounds so much so that when we started playing hockey, we didn’t have two square meals to go back home to. Forget a hockey stick, we could not afford half a litre of milk,” added the 20-year-old.
